Head: Of course we won't help Kimi
Despite Max Mosley's recent warning against any kind of team orders affecting the outcome of the world championship, the $64 million question was put to Williams technical director Patrick Head in Suzuka
"If Montoya is leading the Japanese Grand Prix with Kimi Raikkonen second and Michael Schumacher out of the race, would Williams feel sympathetic to Kimi's championship aspirations?"
Head, with a wry grin, replied: "That would be team orders and we would never apply team orders in a way that affected the outcome of the race."
When it was pointed out that it was a decision Montoya was capable of making on his own, without instruction on the radio, Head smiled again.
"Ah yes, but (Ferrari technical director) Ross (Brawn) corrected me when I said in the Monza press conference that if we don't have an instruction to our driver but he decides to help another, it would be a matter for him. Ross said that since the driver is a member of the team, it would still be team orders. At least that is Ross's opinion..."
Head was then asked if he recalled Jerez '97 when McLaren boss Ron Dennis came into the Williams garage 15 minutes or so before the end of the title-deciding European Grand Prix, and shortly afterwards Jacques Villeneuve, who no longer needed to win, moved over and let the two McLarens through, effectively a payback for an early race strategy that did not impede Villeneuve.
"No, it's funny," Head grinned, "that's all gone into a haze..."
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